UKC

Would like to take our six week old girl out for walks mainly in the lake district.

Just wondering if anybody has any tips to pass on, what stuff to take apart from the usual etc.

cheers.

Dan.

In reply to dapperdan:

At that age you can only use a carrier which holds your daughter on your front, and I'd strongly advise using trekking poles because your balance is altered plus you can't see your feet.

Funnily enough in some ways it's easier when they're newborn as they just want to feed and sleep. My daughter is 7 months now, crawling non-stop and into absolutely everything. She won't tolerate more than an hour in a carrier because she just wants to get out and explore!

In reply to Alyson: good point about the poles alyson, thanks. Glad youre 7 month old is enjoying life!

In reply to dapperdan:

We live in the Lakes with an 11 month old daughter. She regularly comes on walks on the fells. You may, however, want to start with some nice pram walks. There are some route guides you can buy that specialise in these rugged outdoorsy walks. Once the bairn is big enough you can pack him/her into a baby carrier. We've just got back from a lovely week on Skye walking and exploring.

In reply to sargy:

yeah youre probably right. isit easy enough carrying all the gear and finding suitable place to change nappies etc? I imagine any flat bit of ground would suffice?

In reply to dapperdan:

They do get cold real quick, even in a papoose. I've had a couple of bollockings off my wife for this.
I can remember one October on the top of Blencathra and our eldest son was 10 months and teething. He had done one of those foul nappies that are for some reason related to his teeth (?). It was not the first so he had a bit of a rash and he was not happy at all. We descended a little to get out of the wind and changed his nappy but he did not like it as he was sore and it was too cold and he was screaming and we both felt really bad.
Stick to the valleys and wrap them up like your wife tells you to and you'll not go far wrong.

Andy

In reply to dapperdan:
Yep anywhere flat will suffice and if you pack just what is essential its not alot really. Also be really careful for her not to get much if any sun. Its really damaging for them so young. Perhaps higher mountains should be kept until a little older.

My son is 6 months next week, up until this month, Me and the mrs have pushed him in pram up onto parts of the mendips for walks lol..Hes the right age to go into a carrier now. Its great fun.

In reply to dapperdan:

great stuff, cheers guys all sound advice. I wasnt thinking of any routes that would say take a full day or close to that. I think she would be pretty fed up!

In reply to dapperdan:
I think a big problem at this stage will be the baby's lack of being able to maintain her head position- due to not having sufficiently developed neck muscles yet.

We've got a 12 week old boy who still has to be supported to some extent on the 1 mile, low level walks we take him on (using a Ergobaby papoose thingy with an infant insert). I would really hesitate to take our wee guy on anything longer or higher at the moment. And that's without us ever having had to contend with changing him or feeding him in more exposed spots.

In reply to Wee Davie:

Defintely Davie, a point I forgot to mention..Using a carrier for a young baby 0-6 months roughly, you must have them in a carrier facing you, to provide protection and support. Once their neck strength increases and they can hold it up without wobbling, then you can have them facing forwards.

In reply to Wee Davie:

really? just a mile? so peaks pretty much out of the question then for a while at least

In reply to dapperdan:

I wouldnt say so dan. Its a confidence thing. Once your comfortable with changing and feeding outside, its no problem at all to be out for a few hours.

In reply to Bonni82:

cool =)

In reply to dapperdan:

at that age, as said above, they won't be able to support their own head yet. The other thing to consider is overheating in a sling/carrier if the weather is warm.

In reply to dapperdan:

We took ours out from a couple of weeks old, and used a sling a lot, like this:

http://www.dreamsofmountains.co.uk/winter2007-8/20071123Glen_Finglas.JPG

http://www.dreamsofmountains.co.uk/winter2007-8/20071216Callander_Woods.jpg

http://www.dreamsofmountains.co.uk/winter2007-8/20071223Ben_Aan.JPG

http://www.dreamsofmountains.co.uk/winter2007-8/20071225Fife.jpg

This makes it easy to support their head and see how they are; it's also very warm due to them being nestled against your body.

You need to watch out for the sun and the wind, most of all. Windy days are the only ones we really avoided going out on - it's very hard to protect them against wind chill. And, as said, it makes it harder to see where you're stepping! If it isn't windy, it's easy to keep them warm - just be careful not to get them -too- warm.

Remember nappy changes and feeding aren't going to be much fun when it's particularly cold or wet, too.

It's probably best to stick to shorter outings - they'll take longer anyway. And just be prepared to retreat or change plans.

The first half year or so is the easiest - they really just need to be with you, warm, fed, changed and safe, and they aren't very heavy. Enjoy!

In reply to dapperdan:

I dont even have kids but this is actually interesting!

In reply to dapperdan:

+1 here for trekking poles! Stops a slip or over balance becoming an issue. Took both of ours out in a papouse. As others have said keep them warm, take spare everything! Happy baby equals happy walk!! I have a paramo jacket (3rd element I think) where the hood and shoulders zip off, this covered the wee one perfectly then tied around the waist, kept both of them warm dry and most importantly out of the wind. Enjoy

In reply to quirky:

i used to carry a trekMates rain cape with Papoose, fits in pocket, easily keeps you both Dry if it rains.

oh, and when the wean gets a bit older and you switch to a Proper Back Carrier, make sure its got a strap in harness. i got an old karrimor one without straps From Someone, Nearly tipped our Kid down a llanberis quarry when i Bent over for a Steadying Handplacement. scared the Life out of me. thats the first Time ive Thought of that incident for years, still makes me nervous now in fact. brought Back the utter terror and Heartstopping moment when she slipped, and the sickening feeling after i Caught her with my Free Hand over my Head. phew... Terrifying. anyway, dont be cheap, make sure it has a harness.

one more Back Carrier tip... get a Free Standing model, worth their weight in gold

In reply to dapperdan:

We took ours out from about 12 weeks in the Baby Bjorn, no problems at all up to an hour or two. We went to the Lakes when he was 5 months in December and we did loads. Tarn Howes is brilliant and buggy friendly. The path along Langdale by the river is also excellent. Also Latrigg near Keswick, we went on the Ullswater steamer, did a walk by the lake and went back to pick up the steamer on it's way back. Also did something over near Boot, a couple of waterfalls and then a walk along the river there. All excellent but fairly low level.

From six months he's been in the carrier, mostly around the South Downs. His best is 4 hours in there, he sleeps and everything. Food is easy, make up an 'emergency change dry bag' that stays in the rucksack because you only change them when it's real bad! We got caught out in some hideous weather (hail and storm) and he hated it but survived.

I've also fallen over with him in the baby carrier, he didn't even wake up but it was scary. I second walking poles!

In reply to dapperdan:

I think you should have a practice run first with a doll.

In reply to dapperdan:
I don't know if your partner is breast feeding your little girl but if she is try to time her feeds so that she's fed just before you start the walk.
Getting a tit out in the rain at the top of a wind swept hill is not fun (I'm told).


We take ours in a sling and once you've got the hang of it you can pull it right up over her head to support it a bit.

Oh and remember suncream. And a hat. You probably know this but it's easy to forget I find!

In reply to dapperdan:

When we did it with a 6 week old to see the old man of hoy (in November) I used a jacket that was big enough to go right round me and our boy in a front carrier, just in case the weather closed in. Didn't have to use it like that, but it was a close call with lots of black clouds and wind. Agree that it easier when they are small, as after about 6 months they need to go in a backpack and it is harder to keep them warm etc. Hope it all works our for you!

In reply to dapperdan:

Oh and it may sound counter intuitive but the person carrying the baby might also want to carry the rucksack. It's easier on your back if the weight of the baby on the from is counter balanced by a bit of weight on the back.

It does mean the person not with the baby looks like a lazy sod though if you've only got one bag between you!

In reply to dapperdan:

Hey,

Our daughter is 6 months old. I'd repeat what everyone else is saying
About spinal control. Also even front carriers I'd keep walks short initially as their wee bones are growing and too much time in the carrier can sometimes make them a wee bit sore and crabby at night. We used the buggy mostly at the start for walks with the dog. It was winter so a bit easier but they also need a lot of protection from the sun in summer when really wee.

All that said, I think it's good to get them used to the carrier on short trips from an early age. At the start we Had a front carrier and wrapped my down jacket round my daughter on short walks- she was warm as toast- I looked pretty fat though!

We now have a back carrier and went up ben a'an (about 500m) during the cracking weather
On Easter Sunday- bought it for 15 quid in a jack n Jill sale. When your buying one my advice is make sure it has a shade/rain cover and try on the model if you can- some of them are pretty uncomfortable, mines good. Definitely agree with what folk are saying about trekking poles, I just use one but that's just personal preference. I'm hoping to do her first Munro if we get a nice weather day soon..

Hope that helps

Jon

I bought a front carrier based on a recommendation from here (Rose and Rebellion), but even with that you could never have a decent walk. Once they're 9 months or so they can go in a backpack type carrier and they're fine. The problem we had was he was never comfortable in it, he'd fall asleep in such a way that every step caused the material to rub across his face - it didn't look comfortable.

Even with the backpack they sleep a lot, and you want it comfortable for them. We stuck to pram walks until he was old enough for the backpack. And even now, I prefer the pushchair for long walks, the carrier is okay for an hour or so.

In reply to Philip:


I think this depends - it's probably worth trying to see what works in each case.

We had a great day on the Paps of Jura when our firstborn was 3 months old:
http://www.dreamsofmountains.co.uk/winter2007-8/20080215Beinn_Shiantaidh.jp...

- though it was quite uncomfortable at times, as I spent a lot of time balancing Freya with my hands when she was asleep, and we didn't use that carrier much after that, preferring slings then a backpack.

Both of ours did seem to fall asleep much better when being carried on a walk - I think due to the constant gentle movement.

In reply to dapperdan:

Buy or make a big bothy bag for nappy stops and feeds. Ours was *really* useful

In reply to dapperdan:
I never realised how complicated I should have made it!
Another vote for poles. Just don't use the wrist loops perhaps.

In reply to dapperdan:

Lots of good advice about sun. Don't forget babies need some sun for Vitamin D, so don't plaster them with sun cream for v short trips.

Baby sunglasses can be useful (not to mention cute), not so relevant when they're in a carrier facing you, but definitely for later on.

If you use a carrier, then a big jacket that you can fit over it is useful, and an umbrella.

In reply to 999thAndy:


Yeah. Just a big lightweight groundsheet will do.

In reply to Philip:


Why do you say that? Back problems?